Anne Arundel County OEM, FEMA and NOAA are just one part of the emergency management team that works to prepare and respond to disaster. A key member of the team is the public. That is why we are encouraging everyone to do their part and prepare now, so that you know what do when severe weather strikes.

This year, we ask families, communities and businesses to be force of nature by taking the pledge to prepare at ready.gov/severe-weather.

When you pledge to prepare, you will take the first steps to making sure that you and your family are prepared for severe weather. These steps include developing a family communications plan, putting an emergency kit together, keeping important papers and valuables in a safe place, and getting involved in your community to encourage preparedness. Visit ready.gov/severe-weather for more on family preparedness for severe weather.

Building a Weather-Ready Nation requires the action of all of us. Each and every person across the country has the potential to be a force of nature when it comes to weather-readiness.

Studies show that individuals need to receive messages a number of ways before taking appropriate action. Many are more likely to act when the messages are received from a trusted source- family, friends, or a community leader. By sharing your preparedness actions with your community you are being a force of nature.

History teaches that a lack of awareness and preparation are common threads among all major weather threats. Knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take can save your life and others.

During this preparedness week we ask you to be a force of nature – Know your risk, take action and be an example by sharing what you have done, with your friends, family, coworkers, and others.

Once you have taken action, share your story with your family and friends. You can create a video and post it to YouTube or another video sharing site, or post your story on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or through other social media sites.

What Can You Do?

Ensure that you and your family members know about your surroundings and risk for specific weather. Stay informed by having multiple sources for weather alerts.

Have an emergency plan in place, and know what to do before severe weather strikes. Exercise the plan with your family and post it in your home where visitors can see it.

As part of tailoring your plans, consider working with others to create networks of neighbors, relatives, friends and co-workers who will assist each other in an emergency. Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, pets, specific needs like the operation of durable medical equipment or how we can inform someone with a hearing loss about impending severe weather .

Identify an appropriate shelter in your home, neighborhood and community ahead of time. Share this with your neighbor.

Learn how to strengthen your home and business against severe weather. Pass this on at a community gathering, local service organizations or faith-based meeting.

Find out from local government emergency management how you will be notified for each kind of disaster and sign up for additional alerts through social media and local news. Understand these local warning systems and signals and share your knowledge with your coworkers, friends. Email these resources to your friends, post to your social media account.

Often the real "first responders" to an emergency don’t have flashing lights and sirens. They are moms and dads, store managers, and teachers. What they do before, during, and after an emergency can save lives.

Once you have taken action share your story with your family and friends. Create a YouTube video and post your story through a social media site.

During National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, we emphasize the need for individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits to prepare emergency plans, and to know what to do before severe weather strikes. More information on tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is available at weather.gov and ready.gov/severe-weather.

Office of Emergency Management

410-222-0600

BGE Power Outage

Hotline: 1-977-778-2222 or Website

AACO Department of Public Works

http://www.aacounty.org/DPW/phoneNumbers.cfm

DPW Snow Information Page

http://www.aacounty.org/DPW/SnowInformation/Index.cfm

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PRESENTATIONS & NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK

...for your community, church, workplace or organization. Learn which hazards threaten Anne Arundel County and how your family and community can be ready for any emergency. Call(410) 222-0600 to schedule your presentation or information session.